Pancho

I guess you can figure out that I'm on a Bottle Stopper kick! They're fun to do and so far a quick return on the time invested. With this one I thought a Mexican would be a change so here's Pancho fresh from his run across the border. I've heard he's hiding out as the new cashier at a Taco Bueno down in El Paso!!!
-
More photos in the Gallery.

Chung Lee

I was watching some silent movies the other night and one titled "In Old San Francisco" had a bunch of Chinese characters in it and I made this quick sketch of one. I thought it would make a great caricature carving or maybe a bottle stopper thats a little different than you normally see. I also thought that maybe some of you might like to follow along on the project so I'll do it as a tutorial. We'll do it as a stopper first just to see how it will turn out. If it works we can take it a little farther.
-
No photos in the Gallery yet.

Teddy-Ready To Charge The Paint Table

He's got his sword, he's got his sidearm, he's got the Regimental Flag, he just brushed his teeth! This fella is just about ready to make the Charge up San Juan Hill! However, first he has to visit the paint table!
-
As you can see, I'm really having a lot of fun with this figure. Doing the research to get all the little details just right has been a real learning experience, one that will pay dividends a little while from now when I start my next "big" project. The boys over on the WCI forum really helped me to track down the proper rigging of his sword and I really appreciate that.
-
The wave of the flag didn't turn out to be a problem at all. That acid-etch auto primer is the key when painting any kind of metal. I also used it on the scabbard straps, spurs and buttons. It just will not come off once it dries.
-
I think I'll do the mount before I start the paint job as I want to see just how he'll look and it will take some dirty handling yet for that to happen.\
-
More photos after the jump to the Gallery. Comments always welcome.

Brushpoppers - How To Make A Bottle Stopper The Out West Way!

I've been looking for a way to do some Bottle Stoppers in a way that was a little more professional than what I've seen at carving shows. I wanted them to be able to "stand alone" as individual pieces in case someone just wanted a couple and not a collection. I think I've figured out a way to do it and thought you might like to see how it was done. This method certainly worked for me as the first person in my shop after I started the project bought both of them before they were even put together.
-
Anyway, it's quite easy to do and building your own bottle cutting rig like I did will save you about $30 over a commercial one.
-
Let me know what you think about these two. I'm really interested in your input. Lots of instructions and photos in the gallery.

Teddy - The Rough Rider

Teddy Roosevelt always seemed to me to be an excellent character to make a caricature of, especially in his role as a Rough Rider. After searching through all the available photos on the web I found the one I posted in the gallery that I'm using as a guide.
-
I made the glasses by first making the rims from pounded 18 gauge wire bent to shape and silver soldered. Then, laying them upside down on a piece of wax paper I filled each lens with clear epoxy. Once it as good and set I used my belt sander to sand the surface smooth. The lens is still a little too cloudy so that will take some more figuring to get it the way I want it. I don't really want it completely clear sort of inbetween what it is now and clear if that's understandable.
-
With the head done the biggest hurdle is behind me and now I can start the body and the ful that's ahead in doing the uniform and especially the laced boots.
-
More photos in the Gallery and comments always welcome.

Pillsbury's Best

Now I would say that those biscuits definitely had the correct measure of Baking Powder! So light....so fluffy...certainly different that the one's Mom used to make! And no....I'm not going to share the recipe! However, I will show you a few more photos of this little gem after the jump to the Gallery.
-
As I said earlier, not to many caricature carvers try to portray the fairer sex except when they do it in what I consider a less than tasteful manner. That's too bad as I think there are really a lot of opportunities to have fun with this gender and still do it tastefully. I think that this piece does that. Granted, she does have some bodacious attributes but even they are displayed in such a manner that you wouldn't have to hide the carving when Mom comes for a visit.
-
In doing a female character the face is the hardest part for me. I think I've figured out just what one needs to do to get that feminine look and maybe in an upcoming post I'll show the steps I use to get it. There is still a little room for improvement in certain areas of the face but I'll try and correct that in future carvings.
-
So, go get your cup filled from that pot of coffee hanging over the firepit and set back and relax till Latigo Lil comes around with that plate of trail muffins. Just remember when she dips low to hand you one HANDS OFF!!!
-
More photos in the Gallery and as always, comments always welcome.

Buxom Biscuits

Here she is! This one has taken me a little long to produce as I really wanted to get the figure just right. While the anatomy is somewhat exaggerated I still wanted them to be soft, nicely rounded and tasteful. I also worked to make sure the figure was balanced even with those bodacious ta-ta's. I think I might just have done it. The face still looks a little heavy but I think that will correct itself when I paint it.
-
She ought to be a really colorful figure especially with the flour sack apron design. This was really a fun figure to do and hopefully it will encourage others to try a female figure as there aren't too many out there.
-
More photos in the Gallery.

Granny Gets A Tattoo - Finished!

Finally!!! This thing has really been a chore to finish. The carving part was easy compared to the shop front and all that lettering. Ever tried to letter backwards on a piece of clear Lexan? I don't recommend it!
-
I think it's a nice little scene...an unusual one. It's not so funny as it is cute so I'll bet the older ladies will like it. It's still missing a few things which are bouncing around inside my noggin but I haven't decided whether to add them. One is a little snow to carry the theme of Granny's overcoat and earmuffs. Wouldn't take much, just a little along the edge of the building and fire hydrant. I think the big window could also use at least one more sign but, to put it frankly, I'm a little burnt out lettering. My eyes aren't what they're used to and that small work is really taxing. When I finally decide what to do I'll post some photos of the additions.
-
More photos in the gallery and I really appreciate your comments.

Beer-Thirty

Here's a figure I did a while back that I don't think I've posted before. I had a lot of fun carving him but the most enjoyment was collecting and disposing of the reference material. I made the six-pack carton out of metal and then individually carved the bottles. To make them look like glass I gave them a couple coats of high-gloss poly and will have to admit that they really do sparkle just like a glass bottle.
-
There must be a lot of beer drinkers who relate to this piece as I barely got it off the paint table before it was gone.
-
Sorry, this is the only photo I could find of him so there are no additional photos in the gallery. Comments always welcome and if you look at the comment box below they've added a new category where you can now sign with your name without having a Google account.

The Wife's New Horse

As it has been a while since I posted anything I thought I would flesh out the Blog with a little news from around our place. Since Judy's first horse Sugar foundered just after the big ice storm last year and had to be put down we've been on the lookout for a new one. Finally, after almost two years I think we've found one.
-

Misty is a 7 year old registered paint mare and measures about 14.5 hands. A horse's height is measured in "hands" at 4" to the hand. While the only color other than black on Misty is a star on her forehead and a white snip on her lip she is still a 100 percent Paint. She is very gentle, easy to groom and shoe and her and Boomer get along great. About the only trouble we've had with her was her initial reluctance to get in our trailer but we've overcome that problem.

-
Now we're hoping to get back to the enjoyment we had earlier when taking the horses out for morning rides around our area. Nothing beats the time spent on the back of a horse, even woodcarving.